What is Scoliosis

What is Scoliosis?

Idiopathic scoliosis is a lifetime, systemic condition of unknown cause. Scoliosis is a disease of the neuromusculoskeletal system. Most common in adolescent girls, it is progressive, psychologically detrimental and can cause both increased pain and increased physical disfigurement as it progresses.

Is there non-surgical treatment for scoliosis?

The standard ‘Medical Model’ is one of ‘wait and see’. What that means is the physician, usually an orthopedic surgeon, will simply re-xray a scoliosis patient, starting from either juvenile, adolescent or adult curvatures, periodically, until such time as the curve reaches 25 degrees or greater. At that point a hard brace known as a ‘Boston Brace’ which is worn almost all the time can be prescribed. This can also have harmful physical and psychological overtones for the patient, especially younger patients, and therefore compliance is a factor.

If continued progression is observed, surgical treatment for scoliosis is the traditional medical procedure. Whether the standard Harrington Rod is surgically implanted or the newer laser surgeries are performed, both are maximally invasive and results are spotty. Research states “the initial average loss of spinal correction post-surgery is 3.2 degrees in the first year and 6.5 degrees after two years with continued loss of 1.0 degrees per year throughout life.”

The average pre-operative scoliosis curvature is 72 degrees, while the post operative surgical treatment for scoliosis results in an unimpressive 44 degrees which then continues to deteriorate each year thereafter. Drs. Woggon and Lawrence concluded that 44 percent of scoliosis bracing attempts are considered failures because they do not cease the scoliosis development.[3] It is also known that upper middle class children wore the prescribed brace not more than 10% of the recommended time thereby negating any potential benefits. Scoliosis surgery also does nothing for the rib hump deformity.

Unsuccessful alternative non-medical scoliosis treatments include:

Stand alone craniosacral treatments for scoliosis

Various alterations to shoes, including insertion of shoe lifts

Soft braces worn 23 hours per day, which have no proven track record for adult scoliosis correction and difficult compliance with juvenile scoliosis

Natural alternative scoliosis treatment is available in the southeast at the ‘Scoliosis Correction Center of Greenville located centrally in Greenville, NC.

Vibration Therapy, is a non-medical scoliosis treatment, via the use of a ‘Vibrating Scoliosis Traction Chair and Vibrating Platform’ are used to override the body’s proprioceptive defenses. Because the scoliotic spine compresses and rotates three-dimensionally, it must be tractioned and de-rotated in order for it to correct.

Remarkable Results

Remarkable results were found utilizing these procedures in a retrospective study done by Morningstar, Woggon, and Lawrence. [3] 19 patients with scoliosis ranging from 15 to 52 degree Cobb angles (the angle which measures the degree of curvature of the spine) were monitored. Following the course of treatment, patients exhibited an average reduction of 62% or 17 degree Cobb Angle. Eight out of 19 patients were no longer classified as scoliotic. The therapy takes a fraction of the 23 hours per day a patient typically wears the brace.

So, if you ask– “Are there any treatments of scoliosis that are non-medical, non-invasive, avoid long term bracing whether soft bracing or hard bracing?” The answer is: Yes there are new breakthroughs in chiropractic and alternative scoliosis treatment of and for scoliosis.

Our Office

Testimonials

We see incredible results already

Two days into treatment: We see incredible results already. I see the hump in her back decreasing and her posture is a lot better. She is also significantly more flexible than she has been for the past few years …

To Dr Kean and Staff

Meet Our Team

Delivering quality health care to the community of Greenville, North Carolina since 1999.

"We are committed to providing the highest quality of care to heal your pain and restore your vitality. Our practice offers individualized pain relief while working to correct the cause of the condition."